"But it doesn't matter a rush to me who is at the bottom of the accusation contained in this letter. There's only one thing of any consequence—is it true?"
My head was reeling, my eyes were dim, my palms were moist, I felt as if I were throwing myself over a precipice but I answered:
"It is perfectly true."
I think that was the last thing he expected. After a moment he said:
"Then you have broken your marriage vows—is that it?"
"Yes, if you call it so."
"Call it so? Call it so? Good heavens, what do you call it?"
I did not reply, and after another moment he said:
"But perhaps you wish me to understand that this man whom I was so foolish as to invite to my house abused my hospitality and betrayed my wife. Is that what you mean?"
"No," I said. "He observed the laws of hospitality much better than you did, and if I am betrayed I betrayed myself."